The Big Fraud Indian Wedding ; in Maharashtra, the 'Noble' Practice of Mass Marriages Is Fast Turning Into a Money-Making Exercise and a Ploy to Garner Votes
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Summary
Marriages are made in heaven-- goes the adage, but in Maharashtra the human hand has a bigger role to play when it comes to this institution. Politicians in the state have taken it upon themselves to get the underprivileged married, not just once but twice, sometimes even with their children in tow.
This 'noble' practice of mass marriages is now fast turning into a money- making venture for organisers and a ploy to generate votes. In December 2003, the state Government introduced the 'Kanyadan' scheme for the benefit of the scheduled castes and tribes, who could not afford to have a wedding ceremony. The Social Justice Department of the state Government provides Rs 10,000 worth mangalsutra and utensils to each newly-wed couple. Local NGOs assist in organising these annual grand events and distributing gifts to the couples. Since 2003, the funds allocated under this scheme have more than doubled, from Rs 2.20 crore to Rs 5 crore. In fact, the district administration in Vidarbha has applied for a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records for conducting 927 marriages, the highest in any region last year.See the full content of this document
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The Big Fraud Indian Wedding ; in Maharashtra, the 'Noble' Practice of Mass Marriages Is Fast Turning Into a Money-Making Exercise and a Ploy to Garner Votes
In a bid to get more and more couples married, the administration has got existing married couples to tie the knot again at several mass marriage functions. Sources reveal that over 60 per cent of the couples who participated in the ceremony at Gadhchiroli this March were already married. For instance, Pu...
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